Storm victims advised to take debris to rights-of-way

Published: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 8:46 a.m.

With local governments prohibited from going onto private property, area residents will need to bring debris from Monday's storms to rights-of-way for pickup or pay a contractor to remove it, according to municipal and county officials.

Gadsden Public Works Director Brian Stovall said the city's policy is that if work is done by a contractor, debris removal is the responsibility of the property owner.

Stovall said if the work is done by the property owner and brought to the right-of-way, the material can be no bigger than 10 inches in diameter and can be no longer than three feet. The limits prevent damage to city equipment.

There are trees on rights-of-way the city is capable of removing, he said, but they are entangled with power lines and must be left for now.

Mayor Larry Means said Attalla has a similar policy. There is no specific size requirement, but the material must be of manageable size.

Glencoe and Rainbow City have similar debris removal policies.

Officials there said the debris needs to be moved to the right-of-way and cut to a manageable size, but neither city gave strict dimensions.

Both cities said that applies only to work done by property owners. Contractors doing work must dispose of debris themselves.

Glencoe also has a landfill specifically for yard waste for use by residents. The landfill, which is only for Glencoe residents, will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Southside Mayor Wally Burns said if a property owner brings debris to the right-of-way, the city charges for removal based on the size of the load.

“We can't afford to take everybody's (debris) off,” Burns said. “We have to pay to carry it the landfill, so it's going to cost us money.”

Burns said the city is cutting trees that are in rights-of-way and hauling them away.

Etowah County Engineer Tim Graves said county crews are removing trees that have fallen on rights-of-way, although crews have been concentrating on opening roads rather than debris removal.

Sardis City will remove debris that has fallen into a right-of-way. City Clerk Doug Gamblin said only one street in the city limits was affected by the storms, and many nearby residents will have to speak with the county about debris removal.

Hokes Bluff Mayor Gary Reeves said the city picks up debris on rights-of-way the first Monday of each month. Residents should call City Hall to be put on the pickup list. He said debris should be four to six feet long and should be on the right-of-way, but not under power lines.

The mayor said the city also will not haul away debris for contractors.

In Altoona, land owners can bring debris to the right-of-way and it will be picked up. The city does not pick up debris from contractors.

Walnut Grove Mayor Autry Works said property owners should bring debris to the right-of-way, where it will be picked up.

He said contractors can bring debris to the Scruggs Ball Fields, where it will be picked up and disposed of.

<p>With local governments prohibited from going onto private property, area residents will need to bring debris from Monday's storms to rights-of-way for pickup or pay a contractor to remove it, according to municipal and county officials.</p><p>Gadsden Public Works Director Brian Stovall said the city's policy is that if work is done by a contractor, debris removal is the responsibility of the property owner.</p><p>Stovall said if the work is done by the property owner and brought to the right-of-way, the material can be no bigger than 10 inches in diameter and can be no longer than three feet. The limits prevent damage to city equipment.</p><p>There are trees on rights-of-way the city is capable of removing, he said, but they are entangled with power lines and must be left for now.</p><p>Mayor Larry Means said Attalla has a similar policy. There is no specific size requirement, but the material must be of manageable size.</p><p>Glencoe and Rainbow City have similar debris removal policies. </p><p>Officials there said the debris needs to be moved to the right-of-way and cut to a manageable size, but neither city gave strict dimensions.</p><p>Both cities said that applies only to work done by property owners. Contractors doing work must dispose of debris themselves.</p><p>Glencoe also has a landfill specifically for yard waste for use by residents. The landfill, which is only for Glencoe residents, will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.</p><p>Southside Mayor Wally Burns said if a property owner brings debris to the right-of-way, the city charges for removal based on the size of the load.</p><p>“We can't afford to take everybody's (debris) off,” Burns said. “We have to pay to carry it the landfill, so it's going to cost us money.”</p><p>Burns said the city is cutting trees that are in rights-of-way and hauling them away.</p><p>Etowah County Engineer Tim Graves said county crews are removing trees that have fallen on rights-of-way, although crews have been concentrating on opening roads rather than debris removal.</p><p>Sardis City will remove debris that has fallen into a right-of-way. City Clerk Doug Gamblin said only one street in the city limits was affected by the storms, and many nearby residents will have to speak with the county about debris removal.</p><p>Hokes Bluff Mayor Gary Reeves said the city picks up debris on rights-of-way the first Monday of each month. Residents should call City Hall to be put on the pickup list. He said debris should be four to six feet long and should be on the right-of-way, but not under power lines.</p><p>The mayor said the city also will not haul away debris for contractors.</p><p>In Altoona, land owners can bring debris to the right-of-way and it will be picked up. The city does not pick up debris from contractors.</p><p>Walnut Grove Mayor Autry Works said property owners should bring debris to the right-of-way, where it will be picked up.</p><p>He said contractors can bring debris to the Scruggs Ball Fields, where it will be picked up and disposed of.</p>
<p class="italic font120">Times Staff Writer John Davidson contributed to this report.</p>